Xander Schauffele emerged as the Champion Golfer of the Year at the 2024 Open Championship held in Troon, Scotland. With a final score of -9, Schauffele secured his second major win of the year and his career. He started the day one stroke behind leader Billy Horschel but managed to pull away with an impressive round of 65, ultimately winning by two strokes over Horschel and Justin Rose. South African Thriston Lawrence finished solo fourth, one stroke behind the runners-up, while Russell Henley finished solo fifth, one stroke behind Lawrence.
Schauffele’s victory at the Open Championship has catapulted him from being labeled as the “best golfer without a major” to a two-time major winner. He is now halfway to achieving the career grand slam and has firmly established himself as one of the top golfers in the world. Schauffele’s ability to win on diverse courses like Valhalla and Royal Troon, under the immense pressure of a major championship, showcases his impressive skills and mental fortitude on the golf course.
The challenging conditions of the golf course during the initial rounds gave way to more favorable playing conditions over the weekend. While the course posed difficulties for the players, some notable favorites failed to make the cut for the weekend rounds. Players like Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith, and Rory McIlroy were among those who missed the cut. McIlroy, in particular, was a popular pick to contend for the title but fell short by five strokes.
Despite some setbacks, several players had positive performances during the tournament. Jon Rahm managed to secure a top 10 finish, tying for seventh place at -1 along with world number one Scottie Scheffler and Sungjae Im. Shane Lowry, the 2022 Open Champion, finished solo sixth after leading at the halfway mark but struggling in the third round. The upcoming PGA Tour event is the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, where defending champion Lee Hodges will face tough competition from players like Akshay Bhatia, Sam Burns, Tony Finau, and Sahith Theegala.
In addition to his stellar play on the golf course, fans are also interested in the equipment Xander Schauffele uses to achieve his success. Schauffele’s bag includes wedges such as the Callaway Opus 52°, Titleist Vokey Design SM10 56°-10S, and Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto 60°-K with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. He relies on an Odyssey Toulon Design Las Vegas Prototype 7CH putter to navigate the greens effectively. Dylan Thaemert, a clinical mental health therapist with a passion for golf, provides valuable insights into the game and its players through his contributions to Plugged In Golf.
